The Institute trains its students to gain proficiency in latest softwares and create industry leaders, says CEO Dr Saini

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, CEO  N.L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research Dr Seema Saini talks at length about institute’s credentials. NLDIMS is ISO 9001-2015 certified Institute, approved by AICTE, HRD Ministry and Government of India and affiliated to the University of Mumbai, Govt. of Maharashtra. The institute also has some highest accreditations such as A grade from NAAC and A*** from CRISIL at the State level and A** at the National level. She also talks about various initiatives taken by the institute to help students become industry-ready.

Dr Seema brings with her extensive experience of 30 years in the field of Education.  Academically she is honoured with a PhD from Mumbai University and has a Masters degree in Economics (Mumbai University) and a Masters in Human Resource Development from Xavier University, Cincinnati (USA).

Read the complete interview below

Q: What are the three things that your institute is doing that will enable it to differentiate itself from competition?

A: N.L.Dalmia Institute of Management Studies & Research (NLDIMSR)  is counted amongst the best B-Schools in the country is widely recognized for giving up management quota, letting aspirants get enrolled explicitly based on their merits and being the pioneer to install a full-fledged 12-Terminal Bloomberg Lab.

We are an ISO 9001-2015 certified Institute, approved by AICTE, HRD Ministry and Government of India and affiliated to the University of Mumbai, Govt. of Maharashtra. 

We have some of the highest accreditations - A grade from NAAC and A*** from CRISIL at the State level and A** at the National level. Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges & Universities, UK, has also accredited us as “Premier College”. (ASIC – UK). We have a transparent and ethical admissions policy and procedure and are amongst the few colleges not following the management quota. Admissions are conducted by our Alumni and Industry experts. Our students are admitted purely on a merit basis through national level aptitude tests such as CAT, XAT, CET and others. We are considered as the most sought Institute in the student community which is reflected in just a 4% acceptance rate of admission, out of which 50% students are from an engineering background from across India.

While working towards the needs of our students, faculty and staff, we also invest in our own education. We love learning and like to think of it as a lifelong endeavour. We interact with other schools, colleges and pioneers in the space throughout the year within our own country as well as abroad. We make yearly visits to international education exhibitions and conferences where we get the opportunity to explore and acquaint ourselves with the newest trends and technologies in education, explore future concepts and interact and share ideas with leaders and entrepreneurs in education across the world.

Q: What are the top three initiatives undertaken by you that are helping your students become more industry ready especially in these trying times?

A: The Institute trains its students to gain proficiency in latest softwares like Tableau, SAS, SPSS and creates industry leaders with contemporary and cutting-edge courses, workshops, practical training and hands-on experience in Equity Research, Valuations, Technical analysis, Data Visualization, use of NeuroScience in consumer behaviour and working on Bloomberg terminals. The students are also sensitized to the society and have incorporated civic engagements like MSR (My Social Responsibility) activities by adopting the Kondgaon village, wherein high strides on issues of literacy, hygiene and livelihood are undertaken.

The Institute was conferred with the Social Welfare and Growth Award for Empowering Social Change through Education at the CSR Journal Excellence Awards at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.  It is proud to be associated with INS Hamla to design a curriculum and deliver lectures for various subjects of management for senior naval officers. The institute has also undertaken 5 different projects in the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation area of Thane for the Maharashtra Police. 

Our recent association with Harvard Business School Online will be useful to both the current students and the Alumni to develop business intuition through interactive learning exercises and join a global community of peers. The institute has a great placement record.

Q: What are the key attributes that a student should have in order to qualify for your institution and perform well?

A: Our students are admitted purely on a merit basis through national level aptitude tests such as CAT, XAT, CMAT and others.

To perform well at N.L. Dalmia, we believe in going beyond the prescribed minimum degree requirements, and learning beyond the standard curriculum. This happens in the classroom as well as through a growing selection of value-added courses such as Big Data and Bloomberg certification programs like BMC and BLOOM Berg Analyst that are conducted outside of college hours throughout the week. We also provide students with international exposure and job opportunities by partnering and collaborating with foreign universities such as University of Wisconsin- Parkside, USA as part of our Global MBA program.

Q: What are you doing to improve/drive better campus placements for your current students and alumni?

A: The academic rigour of business management courses, the real world exposure that the students get and the industry involvement in management classrooms have pitched the institute amongst the leading management institutions in India.

We have to be relevant to what is happening around us. When the discussions at the World Economic Forum brings forth the possibilities of millions of new categories of jobs being created, it is the responsibility of educational institution and particularly B Schools to prepare the changing workforce to meet the challenges and needs of the fast changing competitive environment.

The institute has a great placement record. Every year, top MNCs and blue chip companies like Hindustan Unilever, Zee Entertainment, Tata Croma, Bennett and Coleman, Kantar, Godrej & Boyce Limited, Citi Corp., CRISIL, CBRE, Factset, Linedata Aditya Birla Finance, Darashaw & Co. Pvt. Ltd., B&K Securities etc. visit the campus for placements.

 Q: What kind of jobs routinely come to campus? What would you say are the key recruitment trends for your college (observed over the past five years)?

A: The Institute has a strong corporate network. Every year, top MNCs and blue-chip companies visit the campus for placements. All students get an equal opportunity for placement and the institute strives to offer them placement of their choice, profile and location.

The stable rise in the compensation offered represent the overall performance of the batch and the Institute. The performance of the alumni hired in the organizations determine the quality of the academic rigor and the co-curricular activities of the institute which is able to transform students and make them industry ready. This encourages recruiters to visit the campus for hiring students regularly every year offering CTC which is at par with premium Institutes.

The Institute provides support and guidance to students to help them in their placement. Opportunities for placement are also created through Summer Internship Projects (PPO) provided by the Institute.